Confused and Bewildered

Hey guys, I am a first year nuring student in Canada. I hear so many awful things about nursing as a career. Being in the medical field has been my dream since I got my first doctor's kit(5 yrs old). Should I still persue nursing as a career or change my path.I also would like to have pros and cons of being a nurse. Thanks!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by JAMIE77:Hey guys, I am a first year nuring student in Canada. I hear so many awful things about nursing as a career. Being in the medical field has been my dream since I got my first doctor's kit(5 yrs old). Should I still persue nursing as a career or change my path.I also would like to have pros and cons of being a nurse. Thanks!!!!!!!!

Dear Jamie,
I, too, always wanted to be a nurse; but, I had to wait until I was 39 years old after raising two boys. At the age of 42 I received my ADN degree. It was and is a dream come true and worth the wait. After experiencing work in a nursing home, a year and 1/2 on the med/surg floor, a year with a family doctor; I found my niche - I've been a certified Chemo/IV therapy Rn for two years now and still love it. Yes, you'll get emotionally drained, physically tired, cry, hurt; but you'll experience more laughter, more humility with your patients that the down side always seems to fade in the distance. So go for it and enjoy each day of it. You'll never regret it...

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Debra A. Jones, RN

Sep 9, '00

Although I am myself a nursing student it is one of the best fields I think that is available today. You have great job security, pay is only going to increase, and you watch people get better. What more could you ask for in a job. There are so many areas of nursing you can go to OB, GYN, Anesthesia, Pediatrics, and Critical Care. But the cons are having to work hard, understaffing, and watching some patients no matter how hard you try not going to live.

Sep 10, '00

Hello Jamie77. I am a nursing student as well and I too have wanted to be apart of this feild from childhood. What I can tell you is that I have heard all the negatives about being a nurse but, once you start working with patients those thoughts will fade. For me knowing that I made a difference in someones day/life makes up for all the bad things. So good luck to you in school and your future as a nurse

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Peace & Blessings

Sep 10, '00

Hi Jamie77,
I'm going to be lengthy here, but I want to make some points. I don't know what terrible stories you heard about nursing in Canada, but a browse of this wwbb should give you a pretty good idea of the pros and cons of nursing and the weightiest issues going now. I will tell you that any profession you go into, you're going to see and hear horror stories. You just need to decide what your specific objective and goals are in the medical field and let that guide your decision in what to pursue. By and large, anyone who feels enthusiatic and motivated about their chosen career path will be successful even when suffering adversities and setbacks. Unlike most other professions, training for a nurse is essentially broad-based and gives you the capability to work in any area of the work sector with additional training as/if needed. In fact, there are a number of nurses who become physicians as well as lawyers, business owners and consultants. Most people who have taken this route express that the practice of nursing contributed greatly to their success, because they experienced the best and worse of human nature in patient care. Nursing practice also helps in learning how to handle some of the most stressful situations known to man. This has definitely contributed to the success of nurses when they pursue another area in or outside of nursing. I think that you should consider seeking out a mentor in your area that can give you positive and objective feedback about your plans. Best wishes.

Sep 10, '00

Originally posted by JAMIE77:Hey guys, I am a first year nuring student in Canada. I hear so many awful things about nursing as a career. Being in the medical field has been my dream since I got my first doctor's kit(5 yrs old). Should I still persue nursing as a career or change my path.I also would like to have pros and cons of being a nurse. Thanks!!!!!!!!

HI! I am a junior nursing student working on my BSN and I love what I am doing. For the first two years of college I was a pharmacy major and had been accepted to pharmacy school when I decided to change to nursing. I realized that I wanted hands on patient contact and that is what I would be able to do as a nurse. School is hard, but it is very rewarding. There will definately be hard times, but the good will outweigh the bad. If this was your dream ever since you were 5, I highly recommend that you stay with that. I thought that I was going to be a pharmacist, but here I am now looking forward to the furture challenges that I face as a nurse!

Sep 11, '00

You sound like you're in a similar situation as me. Like you, I have always wanted to go into a medical career and while in college I decided in enter a nursing BSN program. Lately though I've been hearing some not so good things about nursing. I have to remember why I chose nursing, it wasn't for the money(although the pay is good), and it wasn't for the glory and prestige. I chose nursing because I like people and I'm wanting to help those in need as much as possible. Also, within the nursing career there are so many choices of what you can do. Those who say not to enter nursing may have just not found the right kind of nursing job. But I'm sure once you actually get some expierences in the hospitals and community you'll be able to find your niche. At least that's what I'm hoping for myself! Good luck!

Sep 13, '00

Being a nurse is not for everyone. I am a senior nursing student in a BSN program. I have already obtained my ADN. I am also working in labor and delivery and I love it. I worked med/surg for a little while and I couldn't stand it. I think you really have to find your nitch. There are so many opportunities out there for nurses besides traditional hospital roles. I am planning on continuing my education to get a MSN to teach. I think the nurses who are complaining are burnt out. As long as you keep what you are doing exciting and rewarding for you you will enjoy your career.

Apr 27, '04

Change your path, enough said

Quote from JAMIE77

Hey guys, I am a first year nuring student in Canada. I hear so many awful things about nursing as a career. Being in the medical field has been my dream since I got my first doctor's kit(5 yrs old). Should I still persue nursing as a career or change my path.I also would like to have pros and cons of being a nurse. Thanks!!!!!!!!